Suspension fork upgrade 24 inch bike

Suspension fork upgrade 24 inch bike

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Silvanus

Original Poster:

5,806 posts

29 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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My daughter has recently got into riding her bike and expressed an interest in mountain biking (something I do). I was looking at getting her a second hand bike that she could use and see how she got on. However, her grandparents kindly bought her a brand new Kuda Kinetic 24 and my daughter loves it.

Problem is its a pretty basic spec and it's not exactly light, despite having an Aluminium frame. Ideally I would have bought something lighter with a better spec, so instead I'm looking at some simple upgrades. Lighter handlebars, stem, seatpost etc are all pretty easy but having a bit of a dilemma with the forks.

She loves the idea of suspension forks but the ones fitted are terrible, very heavy and don't really work. One option would be to get a rigid fork, but I'd like to find a better, lighter suspension fork. It needs to be compatible with a 24 inch wheel and V-brakes but I'm struggling to find one.

Hoping someone on here might have some suggestions, cheers


https://www.leisureoutlet.com/143076-cuda-24-girls...

lufbramatt

5,419 posts

140 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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RST do some air sprung 24" forks (First 24 or CAPA range) but you're looking at around £200 if you can find one. I found some on ebay.

Although they probably work better than whats on there they're also not especially light as they're basically the same as an adult sized fork minus a couple of inches of alloy tube. Decent adult forks are more like £400+ so you;re still very much budget end of the market.


Silvanus

Original Poster:

5,806 posts

29 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
quotequote all
lufbramatt said:
RST do some air sprung 24" forks (First 24 or CAPA range) but you're looking at around £200 if you can find one. I found some on ebay.

Although they probably work better than whats on there they're also not especially light as they're basically the same as an adult sized fork minus a couple of inches of alloy tube. Decent adult forks are more like £400+ so you;re still very much budget end of the market.
As long as they are the same weight or a little lighter, but actually work, I'd consider them

TGCOTF-dewey

5,684 posts

61 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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If you can find a second hand front 24" wheel with a disk hub, you could get a second hand 26" spec 100mm Reba for not much. You'd need a second hand / or cheap front disc as well.

I built a 24" full sus for my lad about 7 years ago using a knackered old 4x frame and second hand bits from pink bike.

Vid of it here - quick slo-mo as I was dialling in the suspension.

https://youtube.com/shorts/VJ_JDmLvlUw?si=H7vO2E8h...


Silvanus

Original Poster:

5,806 posts

29 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
quotequote all
TGCOTF-dewey said:
If you can find a second hand front 24" wheel with a disk hub, you could get a second hand 26" spec 100mm Reba for not much. You'd need a second hand / or cheap front disc as well.

I built a 24" full sus for my lad about 7 years ago using a knackered old 4x frame and second hand bits from pink bike.

Vid of it here - quick slo-mo as I was dialling in the suspension.

https://youtube.com/shorts/VJ_JDmLvlUw?si=H7vO2E8h...
Been considering this too, I've also seen V-brake extenders, but can't seem to find reducers, if such a thing exists

TGCOTF-dewey

5,684 posts

61 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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Do the head angle and bb height maths... A mullet may work. Full enduro look... She'd love it laugh